by Bellus, HJ
“I’m confused.” I feel my forehead trying to piece together the whole messy puzzle. “What does my uncle or me being from California have anything to do with this?”
“This interview is over.” The agent leaning up against the wall pushes off of it and opens the door for me. “We will be in contact if we need any further assistance.”
The female agent leans forward and whispers, “Stay away from Saint and let few as possible know you’re related to him.”
She pauses for a bit while reading the question on my facial expression.
“It’s for your safety.”
All three agents are up and gone, leaving me in the tiny room with buzzing lights, before I have the chance to blink or even ask another question. What in the hell is going on?
The hospital’s piercing intercom goes off to page all nurses and staff to the emergency room and it startles me. The image of Marvel floods me and I’m up and running without thinking. The sound of my clogs smacking the floor cause my ears to thump with a heartbeat as everything happens in slow motion when I pass Maverik, Ella, Challis, and Merek standing together outside the swinging doors of the ER.
Their hands are linked together. I don’t have enough courage to look up to their faces as my heart sinks when the chaos of the ER fills the waiting room as the swinging doors fly open and close.
Once in the room, a scene from a horror show complete with blood, flesh strewn everywhere, and the stench that is far too overwhelming intoxicates me to the point I feel the urge to vomit. Pushing back the gagging sensation, I scrub in quickly and throw on a mask before reporting to the nurse above me waiting instructions.
“Her.”
Marvel tries to reach his hand up from the table.
“You need to hold still.”
“Her.” He tries again. “I need her.”
This time the doctor lets him raise his hand up. He’s pointing directly at me.
“Clover.” I’m pushed from behind until I’m by his side.
“Hold this as I finish sewing him up.” My hand is placed on a flap of skin hanging from his chest. It’s the longest and most brutal of all his wounds running from the top of his sternum down to the right of his belly button. Infection is obvious with the amounts of decaying skin running along the edge of the cut.
“Thank you,” Marvel whispers.
I look to him and notice his hazel eyes staring back up at me and only smile back at him. Tears begin to roll down his cheeks.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
He slowly shakes his head side to side.
“You’re doing great, Marvel. Where’s the pain?” another nurse asks.
“I don’t feel anything,” he mumbles. Streams of blood pool down his lips from the deep cracked crevices. Without thinking, I grab gauze from the table he’s lying on and begin to dab his lips.
“Your brothers are out there.” I nod and continue to soak up as much blood as possible.
“Yeah,” he whispers.
“Your sisters-in-law too. Your granddad will be so thrilled, Marvel. You have to fight.”
I reach for a tube of Vaseline to coat his lips with. Another nurse sets it next to me. As I keep one hand on his chest pushing down his skin, I tend to his lips with the other one.
“Marvel, you’re doing great. I need you to stay right where you are.”
A palm covers my shoulder, looking back I see a doctor who bends down and begins whispering in my ear, “Keep doing whatever you’re doing. His heat rate has steadied and his oxygen levels are going up.”
The doctor’s breath tickles the hair on the back of my neck and then the realization of his words causes goose bumps to pop up all along my skin. I give him a nod and continue to dab the ointment on Marvel’s lip then move to some more minor cuts on his cheek.
“You know your granddad told me about the time when you were ten and won your first rodeo.”
This comment gets a weak smile from Marvel.
“Said you’re one hell of a cowboy.”
I feel my hand being moved from his chest. Bottle after bottle of antibiotic are passed by me and handed to the doctors, and when I take a look up I nearly regret it. His wound is laid open as the doctors flush it out and remove as much debris as possible. The sight of his leg is the next thing to assault my heart because it’s barely recognizable as a limb.
“I messed up.”
His voice is weak and this time shakes with terror.
“You’re all right, Marvel. You’re safe now.” I place both of my hands on his cheeks, looking down into his panicked eyes. “You’re home now.”
For a slight moment the only thing I want to do is bend over and comfort him with my lips. It’s more than an urge and more of a hunger brewing within me.
“Ella is having twins. One boy and one girl. Maverik is a mess and dying for them to get here.” I rack my brain trying to remember what the rest of the family has been up to. “Lil’ Mav and Challis started team roping at some local ropings and have been kicking butt.”
“How is he?” Marvel’s eyes roll back in his head as his words are barely recognizable.
“Who?” I brush his long bangs from his eyes, discovering more tiny scrapes and cuts that need attending to.
“Granddad.” He closes his eyes once the word escapes. The rhythmic sounds of all the monitors reassure me his vitals are still steady.
“Stubborn old man is doing quite well. He thought he’d be released from ICU today but looks like a couple more days until then.” My hand stays busy as I keep finding scrapes and cuts to clean up and mentally remember the ones that may require stitches. “The doctors are making him take it slow and he sure doesn’t care for that.”
Minutes pass as everyone in the room attends to one part of Marvel with the only soothing noise and form of hope coming from the steady monitors.
The swinging doors fly open with the head of surgery standing in the doorway. “The plastic surgeon is here from Chicago and is ready for him.”
“Closing up the last wound and we’ll have him wheeled up to the OR. His vitals are steady for now. Severe signs of infection coupled with necrotizing fasciitis in his leg.”
I watch hopelessly as they wheel him away, leaving my hands empty and bare. It’s not until he’s gone that I realize what his touch had done to me. I shake my head, knowing it’s only because of how traumatic the situation is and knowing his family.
I begin helping clean up the ER, putting away medical supplies when I come across a necklace laying on the floor. The chain is broken and filthy with a silver cross attached to it. I pick it up knowing it’s Marvel’s and tuck it into the front of my scrubs. It goes against all protocol, but if I can’t be with him helping him, I at least want a piece of him with me.
I know it’s all wrong, but it feels so damn right and it should be my first sign.
6
Marvel
Her face—it’s all I saw when I wanted to die. Die, take my last breath, and escape the torture of Saint and his men. If being beaten wasn’t enough, the visions of my best friend dying in front of me were. Surviving is the last thing I’ve ever wanted and may be the worse punishment God has delivered.
My world is black as I drift in and out and remember her words about my family. Granddad’s in the hospital. My brothers actually want to see me, and all I want is death. The inevitable blackness takes over, causing all my worries, horrible memories, or fucking hatred left to haunt me to dissipate forever.
The burn of her kiss is the last thing for me to remember.
7
Clover
I stand back a bit leaning on the hallway wall listening to the doctors explain in detail Marvel’s condition, and I don’t miss the FBI agents who are also listening. The doctors’ main concerns are saving his leg and beating the flesh-eating disease.
“Thank you.” Maverik rises up to shake each doctor’s hand while Merek follows suit.
“It will be a long night with several more surgeri
es to come, but it looks like your brother was quite lucky.” The two doctors walk off, leaving the Slatters in shock. It’s written all over each of their faces.
An awkward silence settles in as the agents stay close to the Slatters. A new cowboy I’ve never met has joined the group.
“Clover.” Ella races up to me, automatically wrapping me up in a hug. “Are you okay?”
Finally, the touch of a friend after the most traumatizing night of my life leaves me feeling very emotional, even with the threat of tears. From finding Marvel, to being interrogated, to my uncle Saint being an asshole, and then finishing the night holding Marvel, all of it collides together letting the dark storm cloud above my head open up.
“I’m okay.” I step back, wiping the tears from my eyes, trying to keep the flood of them back.
“What happened?” Merek asks.
I follow Ella over to the couches and take a seat on the single peach ottoman.
“I decided to go home tonight to have dinner with my uncle and aunt.” I pull all my hair back, tying it up in a messy bun as I talk. “I got lost. It was so dark, but when I turned my car around I saw something in the middle of the road, and it was Marvel.”
His name rolls off my lips in a whisper, and it’s then I remember our kiss. I run my fingertips along my lips and silently pray to God he’ll make it out of this.
“Who’d you call or what did you do?” the stranger asks.
“Who are you?” My question comes off extremely rude. “I’m sorry…”
He waves me off before I have the chance to completely apologize. “I get it. It’s been an emotional night.”
“Clover, this is my best friend from high school, Sterling, and Sterling, this is Clover.”
He sends me the very polite Texas nod, tipping his cowboy hat toward me. He’s by far taller than the two Slatter men, with a lean body and dark curly hair.
I go ahead and answer his question. “I jumped from my car once I recognized Marvel’s eyes and went to him. Then called 911 after seeing how bad his wounds were. He begged me not to call.”
“Why would he do that?” Ella rubs her hands over her swollen belly as Maverik reaches down, placing a kiss on the top of her head.
“He told me to go or they’d kill me and him.”
“Did he mention names?” Maverik asks as he jumps up from the couch.
I shake my head side-to-side, feeling guilty for not questioning Marvel more, but in the moment I was stressed over his condition.
“I know who it was and I don’t know…”
Sterling places his large hand on Merek’s shoulder and shakes his head. “Not here, not now. You need to be here for your family. Let the authorities take care of it. The sheriff called in the FBI.”
“Do you want a ride home, Clover? I know you were excited to go have dinner.” Ella asks. The concern covering her face nearly causes me to crumble down in tears.
“Ha.” A roll of hysterical laughter escapes from me. I know I look like a mad idiot but can’t help it. “My uncle kicked me out since I missed dinner.”
The whole group stares at me as I try to control my laughing fit as I wipe the tears from my eyes. “I’m homeless.”
“You’re what?” Challis jumps from the couch.
I’m not sure how to go about telling them my own family kicked me out for skipping dinner tonight, and then the words of the FBI agents practically give me whiplash. They warned me not to let anyone know I’m related to Saint. My head spins out of control as I process everything.
“Clover, did you say you’re homeless?” Challis takes a step toward me.
This time I shrug as I answer her. “Yeah, my uncle got pissed I missed dinner tonight and told me my belongings would be in the driveway.”
“That’s bullshit. Let’s go get it.” Her voice is laced with anger and completely defensive in my honor.
Again I can only shrug. “It’s fine. I actually don’t think there’s anything out there of mine. It’s all in my car or the staff room here.”
“What a dick,” Challis huffs out.
“Settle down, Verde.” Merek walks up behind her, wrapping his arms low around her waist.
“You can come stay at the ranch, Clover. My old bunkhouse is empty,” Maverik says. “I’ll have it cleaned up for you.”
The kindness and absolute open welcome nearly causes me to pass out. This is definitely something I’m not used to having been raised by an ice queen. I fight to form a word but nothing comes out.
Ella places her hand on my knee. “Just say yes because they won’t give up.”
“She’s right.” Maverik nods to me.
“I don’t understand any of this if I’m being honest.” My fingers tremble as I try to clutch them together.
“Who the fuck does understand life?” Merek adds. “Hell, look where we all are now.”
“Okay.” I nod and feel sure in my answer. “Okay, but I’ll stay here tonight since I just volunteered to cover a morning shift.”
“Sounds good, sweetie.” Ella’s smile is bright. “I’ll get everything set up for you and show you the way.”
I nearly forget that Sterling was with us. He pushes off the wall and clears his throat. “You guys need to go talk to your granddad and update him.”
A somber tone overtakes the waiting room. Worry covers every face, as does a mixture of pain mingling in.
“It’s too early.” Merek takes his hat from his head and begins to scratch it.
“You have to.” Sterling’s voice is nothing to mess with. “He’ll need to be prepared in case he has to say goodbye to his youngest grandson. It’s a fact you have to face.”
Ella turns from me to face the rest of the group. “He’s right, you guys. Granddad would want to know and be involved in every step. We wouldn’t want him to find out from someone else.”
I watch as the group of Slatters begin to gather up their belongings and what should be a joyous time is not. They all look beat up and exhausted with what life has thrown at them. I prop my feet up on a stool in front of me and feel my heart sink for them with the only reassurance being the sound of Marvel’s steady heart beat when he was rushed up to the OR. He’ll have a long road with infection and possible other complications, not to mention the mental damage.
Ella turns before leaving. “I’ll come find you tomorrow.”
“Okay.” I wave and offer up a weak smile.
Sterling plops down on the couch across from me as I re-tie my hair up on my head. My fingers glide through the greasy mess. It’s embarrassing how little I tend to my own needs when focused on my job, but it’s what makes me happy.
“So, what’s your story?”
“Excuse me?” I look up at Sterling to make sure he’s talking to me.
“What’s your story?”
I tilt my head sideways trying to process the question. I’m not sure if it’s a discussion starter or what to take it as. “I don’t have one.”
“Sure you do. Everyone does.” He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I grew up here, went to school with Ella and Maverik, moved away to go to college, and just returned home a few weeks ago.”
“Oh.” I flush with a bit of embarrassment realizing he’s just making small talk. “I was raised in LA by my mother who’s an attorney. That’s pretty much it.”
“No dad?” He slowly leans back on the couch, taking his large black hat off and laying it on the couch. “Sorry, that was a bit pushy of me.”
I wave him off as I let out a puff of air. “No, you’re fine. I lost my dad when I was younger.”
“Damn, that’s terrible.”
“Yeah, it was a fishing accident and he drowned.” I’m not sure what comes over me because I despise even talking about my dad, let alone that awful day. I hate the ocean and boats because of it. It was just supposed to be a nice family outing on his sailboat, but it turned tragic.
“Your mom must really miss you being this far from home.”
; “Hell.” I dig around in my bag trying to find some kind of food. “She’s happy I’m out of her hair. See, I’m too much like my dad’s side of the family. Nothing like my barracuda mom.”
Two smashed granola bars lay on the bottom of my purse. I grab them and offer one to Sterling. When he politely refuses, I internally scream because I’m starving at this point.
“That’s too bad, Clover. From what the Slatter family has said about you, you’re quite the amazing person and a phenomenal nurse.”
“Whoa, I just love doing my job. I don’t know about the rest of that.” Letting all my manners fly out the window, I stuff a piece of my crumbled granola bar in my mouth.
“Stick around them, Clover, if you hang around this town. They’re good people.”
I nod my head since my mouth is full and honestly have no idea how to respond.
The three FBI agents from earlier walk up the narrow hallway and stop in the waiting room. I’m relieved when they don’t make eye contact with me.
“Where did Maverik and Merek go?” the redheaded woman asks. Looking at her now out of the small office and without the threat of being interrogated, she’s simply gorgeous and much younger than I thought. Her eyes are a piercing green. Sterling’s voice distracts me from falling in love with the lady.
“Went to talk to their granddad.”
My eyes go between the two of them and I find myself more attracted to the woman. Like I’d date her.
“Whoa.” I stand to my feet. “I need sleep now.”
Swinging my large black bag over my shoulder, I dart off before either of them can ask any questions or I mentally dry hump the agent. Sleep, it has to be the lack of sleep and the very stressful day. Holy shit, I’m going nuts. Gripping each side of my face, I really can’t believe I’m living this life and was kicked out by my own family member today while saving Marvel. I mean, it’s not like I’m a town away from home, I’m states away.